Barry McGuigan teams up with Boris Johnson to knock us into shape

Television Programme: SPORTS LIFE STORIES with Barry McGuigan.
FROM ITV STUDIOS
Tuesday October 23rd 2012 on ITV 4
Pictured:
Featuring top names from Rugby World Cup winners to Olympic gold medalists, this new documentary series on ITV4 sheds light on the lives of iconic sporting figures.
The eight-part Sports Life Stories tells the tales of sporting legends, allowing them to open up about their careers and personal lives, and showing how the impact of their achievements can reach into people's daily lives and even into politics.
The likes of Mickey Rourke, Sir Clive Woodward, Michael Vaughan and Jimmy White reflect and provide insight on the lives and achievements of each of these characters.
First in the series is the legendary Clones Cyclone Barry McGuigan, who talks candidly about the glory and tragedy of his journey to becoming World Champion, and the history he made in uniting Ireland behind him during the worst days of the Troubles.
ITV
For further information please contact Peter Gray
0207 157 3046 peter.gray@itv.com
This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme Sports Life Stories or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com

Former boxing champion Barry McGuigan teamed up with the Mayor today to launch an Olympic legacy pro-ject to fight couch potato syndrome.

The ex-featherweight from Ireland, who won his world title at Loftus Road in 1985, will enter the ring to train more than 1,000 Londoners in the six Olympic boroughs, starting this month. He said the gold-medal success of boxers such as Londoner Anthony Joshua and Nicola Adams was inspirational.

Speaking from his Battersea gym, McGuigan, 51, said: “Sport is a great way of breaking down barriers. People should not be embarrassed about their condition — it doesn’t matter how old you are or what shape you are.”